Valve



Sept. 1956 c. JAY ET AL 2,764,356

VALVE Filed Nov. 21, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 11 W INVENfOR.

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United States Patent O "ice VALVE can' Jay, Philadelphia, Pa., Jules Jay, Haddon Hights', N .I Ji, and Bernard Jay, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application November 21, 1955, Serial No. 548 ,1-38 7' Claiiis. (ci. 237 56 This nvention relates general'ly to valves, and is particularly directed to a highly improved valve construction adapted for use in hot water heating systems.

It is' the one object of the present invention to pro vide `a valve construction for hot Water heating systems which substantially completely eleminates 'air fromthe water to prevent rust, obviate ;air binding, and eliminate other -adverse eifects of the air.

It is another object of the present inven toi to' pro vide a novel valve Construction in which all or substan tially all of the air carried in' the water is removed beft'ore the Water passes through the valve port or seat, to thereby substantially completely elimiiite* valve `ch'titte'r and ;considerably prolong the life of the valve. A relatedobject is to provide ;a valve enabliiig substantially all of the removed air' to be passed directly from a boiler to` an expansion t ank without movement of the valve' closu're element, which' minimizes rrroven'entdf the valve' components, .and -also"prevents the water mains from get ting hot in warm weathe`r. I i

A r'rio're' particular object of the present in'vntin is` to'` provide a valve Construction including' ahigh'ly infrproved' valve closure element and' mountin'g means therefore, which combineto insure positive clos'u fe element seating long continued and trouble fre'' &seat the valve', i which combina'tion may be quickly and' easily replaced; repaired or cleaned, and -is foolproof in operation, both' in'gravity and' fo'rced'fiow systems. I p w It is a further object of the present inv'nfior't to' pre vide a valve constructidn hving the' advantage-eng' characteristi'cs rieritioried'` in the" fore'gbing" argrphs, which' is extremely simple and durable in stru`ctu're', re q'`iri n`g a minimum of parts, and which c'ar'" be manufactred, in`- stalled, maintained at a reasonable cost.

Other' objects of the present inyention will b-c eme apparent -up'o'n reading the following" -sp'ecifi'cati'o'i arid r reterring to the accompanying drawing, which form' a material part of this disclosurel I I r The invention' accordirigly consists ir'` th'fetu'f of Construction', combir'atirisof elements, and arrngm'nts' of pa'rts, which will be eXe'mpli-fied in' the con s tr'uoti'o hereiatter described, and of which the sope' will be' w indicated by the appended cla'inis;

In" -the drawings:

Fig're 1' is an elev'ati'onal view, partly in' section ad partly broken away, showing the valve Construction' of the present invention and paris associatd thefewith for conri'ecting the valve in a hetingsystem;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially alongthe line 2-2 of Figure 1; v I

Figure 3 is a partial sectional elevational view similar to Figure 1-, but showing. details of the' closure element and its mountingmeans; and illustrting an alternate positior of operationindot-and dash Outline;

Figure 4` is a= par'til; sectional elevational View taken through the' valve elosure' meniher, s'ubstentilly along the li'rie of 4"-"4 Figt'-5;

2,764,'356 Patented Sept. 25, 195 6 Figure 5 is a horizontaLsectional View taken suhsta tially along the line of 5-5` of Figre' 3; and p Figure 6` is a fragmentary elevationl view showing'jii detail the valve stem holding means of the' pr'e'i't ive'' tion.

Reterring now more particularly to the drawingsgn'd specificallyl to Figure 1 thereof, the embodiineht' of the invention illustrated therein comprises a valve body com'- monly designated 10, which is adap ted for ddn 'c'tfon at its lower en'd to'a hot water' boiler by a conduit, pp'or nipple 11, and adapted for attachment 'at its ippei" end to the heating elements of a hot water system by pies or conduit 12. V

The valve body 10 is of generally hollow cois tc tion and formed on` its lower erid with a dpen'diiig angular skirt which defihes interiorlythere'f of n inlet chamber *16 having its lower end 17 openg downwards, and provided adjacent to` the 'lower end with internal screw threads 18. Formed iii the sli't 15' is a' side opening' or outlet 19 adapted for fluid com ication with an expansio'i' vessel or tank (not shown).

Directly above the inlet chamber 16, the valve body' 10 is formed with an air removal Cham-ber 20 which tpers up'wardly or reduces in cross sectioi toward itsupper end, being defined between the generlly vertical valve body side wall 21 and" an inclined interier body wall or partition 22. The upper wall 23 ofthe' inlet char'nber 16, which is also `the lower wall ofthe' aif 'e mova'l chamber 20, is formed with ari internlly threaded, generally vettically extending through hole 24 opening upwar'ds and downwards into the air removal chamber and inlet chaniber respectively. 4

Extending through the valve body side wall 21,; for communication between the upperinterior region of the' air removal chamber 20 and the exterior of the valve; body is an ar vent 26. The air vent per se` maybe of any suitable conventional -constructiom and, as will appear more, fully herenafter, the air ventservestopermt the escapeof air from the air removalchamber 20 to' the atmosphere, -whileprevent ing the escape of liquid or water throughthe vent. y

The valve body 10 is further formed withan interior; generally horizontally disposedpassageway 28 which` extends latera lly from a' lower region of the air removal chamber 20. That is, the passageway 28 opens, as-'at 2 9,` into alower portion of the air removal' chamb er 2-2' and extends therefrom' laterally outwards bet-weenagenerally horizontal, lower exterior body wall 30*'and an' up per generally horizontal' interor wall; o'r partition 31: As best' seen in Figure 1, the uppe' wall S'i-'of the passageway 28' may be considere'd as a generally horizontal extension of the inclined partition 22, and is provided with .a generally vertically exttending through opening or port 32, V

Also formed interior'ly of thevalve body 10,' located* over and on one side of the air removal chambe'r 20' is an* outlet chamber 35'. It will be noted that the' m clined partiton wall 22' formed on'e wall' 'of the" outlet chamber 35,-while the horizontal' partition' wall 31 forms a' lower wall of the outlet chambe'r,` and' the valve body top wall 36 defines the upper outlet chmber wall; Fur'-" ther, the outlet chamber 35' is directly over the ho'rizontal passageway 28; and, the p port 32 in the lower outlet chamber wall 31 communicates between the pas'-' sageway 28 and the lower region of the outlet chamber. Provided in the upper or top wall 36 ofthe va-lve body 1 0, directly above and preferably coaxial with the port 32 is an inter'ally threaded through opening or hole 33; An additional through opening or hole 39 is formedin the top` valve body wall 36, spa'ced laterally from the hole 38, and preferbly over the' aii removal' chambe r" 2 ljfor economy of space and material;

The nipple or pipe 11 has its upper end portion thread ed for engagement into the lower end of portion Ils of the skirt 15, and may have its lower end portion (not shown in the drawing) connected to the top wall of the h'ot water boiler for communication with the air space in the upper interier region `of the boiler. Of course, other suitable connections of the nipple 11 may be made with a hot water boiler, say through a side wall of the latter, it being advantageous that the valve body be arranged adjacent to the top of the boiler and that the inlet chamber 16 be in communication with the upper interior region of the boiler above the water level in' the latter for Ieceiving air from the boiler.

With the inlet chamber 16 thus communicating with the airspace in a boiler, a suitable Conduit or pipe (not shown) is connected between the outlet 19 and an expansion tank, so that air received in the inlet chamber maybe passed directly to the expansion tank.

A generally vertically disposed Conduit, tube or pipe 41`has its upper end portion externally threaded, as at 42, and is formed with an external, peripheral shoulder or`collar 43 adjacent to the threaded end portion. As clearly seen in Figure l, the tube 41 is arranged generally vertically, being spacedly received within the nipple 11, and extends into and spacedly through the inlet chamber 16. Further, the threaded tube and portion 42 is arranged uppermost and threadedly engaged in the opening 24 of the inlet chamber upper wall 23. Thus, the upper end portion of the tube 41 communicates through the opening 24 with the lower interior region of the air removal chamber 20 and closes the latter opening to 'the interior of the inlet chamber 16. Further, the collar 43 abuts against the underface of the wall 23 to seal any communication between the inlet chamber 16 and air removal chamber 20. The lower end of the conduit 'or tube 41 is open and arranged, when the valve is installed in the heating system, so as to be submerged in the' boiler Water. Hence, the tube 41 communicates between the lower region of the air removal chamber 20 and the interior of the boiler below water level therein and serves to conduct water from the boiler to the air removal chamber.

Threade'dly engaged within the top wall opening 38 of thevalve body is an externally threaded mounting member or plug 45, which has its under side concave or hollow, as at 46 in Figure 3, and is provided on its upper side, exteriorly of the valve body 10, with a generally polygonal head 47 to facilitate insertion and removal of the plug with a wrench. As best seen in Figure 6, the plug 45 is formed with an internally threaded recess or hole 48 extending centrally downwards through the upper plug surface 49 and terminating in an enlarged generally cylindrical lower end portion or packing chamber 50. Further, a generally vertically disposed through boreor hole 51 extends through the plug 45, opening downwards into the cavity 46 and upwards into the packing' chamber 50.

Sutable packing or sealing material 54 is disposed in the chamber 50 and held therein by a retaining member 55.: More specifically, the retaining member 55 is of generally tubular configuration, having a generally vertically extending through bore or hole 56, and formed on its lower portion with external screw threads 57 for engagernent with the internal screw threads of hole 48. On the upper end of the retaining member 55 is provided a generally polygonal head 58 having a lateral bore theren for holding a detent ball 59 and spring 60 which bases the ball towards the through hole 56.

A generally vertically disposed rod or stern 63 eX- tends slidably through the plug bore 51 and retainer hole 56, and has its upper and lower ends disposed respectively above the retainer 55 and below the plug 45. Further, an enlarged head or hand knob 64 is provided on the upper end of the stern 63 above the retainer 55; and, the lower end portion 65 of the stern is of reduced diameter, for a purpose appearing more fully hereinafte'. Adjacent to and spaced below the knob 64, the stern 63 is forned with an annular peripheral groove 66 adapted to receive the ball 59 when the stern is in its lowermost position of vertical shifting movement. The ball or detent 59, being biased by the spring 58 toward the stern 63, serves to releasably retain the stem in its lowermost position.

Mounted on the lower end portion of the stern 63 is a generally cylindrical float or closure member 69 which includes an upstanding tubular guide socket 70 slidably receiving the stern. The guide socket or tube 70, see Figure 4, has its lower end portion extending downwards into and fixedly Secured within the closure member 69, while the upper portion of the guide socket above the closure member is provided with a pair of opposed, generally rectangular, longitudinally extending cutouts or openings 71, see Figures 3 and 5. Extending transversely through the upper region of the lower, reduced stern portion 65, and projecting outwards through the cutouts 71, is a stop or limit pin 73. Thus, vertical shifting or sliding movement of the closure member 69 on the stern 63 is limited by engagement of the pin 73 with the upper and lower bounding edges of the cutouts 71. It will be noted that the upper portion of the guide socket 70 above the stop pin 73 is freely slidable on the relatively large upper portion of the stern 63, while the lower reduced stern portion is loosely received in the lower portion of guide socket to allow the guide socket and closure member 69 a slight angular freedom of movement. That is, the float or closure member 69 is adapted to freely tilt or cant relative to the stem 63. This freedom to tilt or cant enables the closure member 69 to rest or seat firmly on the upper surface of the outlet chamber bottom wall 31, in positive closing relation with respect to the port 32, without high precision of parts.

It will now be understood, that in the solid line position of the Figure 3, the closure member 69 is mounted for free vertical shifting upwards away from the port 32 to openthe latter, and free angular tilting or canting so as to return downward to a firmly seated, port closing position on the upper surface of the wall 31. However, upon upward shifting of the stern 63, as by manual raising of the knob 64 to disengage the detent 59 from the stern groove 66, the pin 73 will engage with the upper bound- 'ing edges of the cutouts 71 to raise the guide socket 70 and closure member 69 away from the wall 31. The extreme upward position of vertical stern shifting is shown in dot-and-dash Outline in Figure 3, wherein the upper end of the guide socket 70 enters the plug cavity 46 and abuts against the under surface of the plug 45, and the closure member 69 is positively maintained in the dotand-dash outline'position away from and in open relation with respect to the port 32.

In Figure 4, the internal Construction of the closure member 69 is best seen as including a generally horizontal through bore or hole 75 which communicates with the lower end of the guide socket 70. As will appear more fully hereinafter, the bore 75 serves to collect dirt particles and the like from the guide socket 70, insuring free movement of the guide socket and closure member on the stern 63, and facilitates rapid removal of the collected dir-t.

In operation, as in a forced flow hot water heating system having a circulator or pump, the knob 64 is pressed down to Shift the stern 63 to its lowermost position, wherein it is releaseably retained by the spring pressed ball or detent 59. In this condition, the closure member 69 is freely shiftable vertically between a lower position closing the port 32 at an upper position opening the port.

As noted hereinbefore, the air from the upper region of the boiler above the water level therein passes upwards through the nipple 11, exteriorly of the tube 41, and out through the outlet port 19 to an expansion vessel or tank. As the lower end of the tube 41 extends into the boiler below 'the water level thereof, to be subme'rged in the" boiler water, itwill conduct water upwards-and intothe lower region of the air removal chamber 2 0. While substantially all of the air from the boiler is passed directly to the expansion vessel, through the inlet chamber 16 of the valve body 10, some air will become entrained in the boiler water, as by turbul'ence or for other reasons, and will be conducted with the water into the air removalchamber 20. Obviously, entrained air conducted With the boiler water into the chamber 20* will rise to'theupper region of the latter chamber, andfrom there escape to the atmosphere through the air vent: 26: That is, the air vent 26 will permit the passage therethrough of air rising to the upper region of the air removal: chamber 20,: while preventing the escape of water fromthe airremoval chamber.

As all of the air carried by the water conducted through the tube 41 into 'the air removal chamber 20 will rise to the top of the latter chamber, only water substantially completely free of air will pass` laterally or horizontally into the passageway 28. Further, the entrained air will tend to move upward and to the left, as seen in Figure 1, toward the air ve`nt 26,. to further risure the movement of only .air-free water into the passageway 28. The pressure of the air-free water in the passageway 28, as created by the circulator or pump, willbe' transmitted upwards through the port 32 to efiect elevation of the closure member 69 and opening of the port' 321 Hence, the' port 32 will be open whenever the circulator or pump is operating. However, when the circulator or pump is not Operating, and the upward force of the relatively hot water, as by convection current or gravity flow, is insufficient to raise the closure member 69, the port will be closed and thereby prevent the downward movement of Water through the port 32 from the outlet chamber 35 to the passageway 28.

In a gravity flow or convection current type hot water heating system, the knob 64 and stern 63 may be elevated to their dot-and-dash line position of Figure 3 to positively maintain the port 32 open. In either the force or gravity flow type of system, substantially completely airfree hot water will pass upwards through the port 32 into the outlet chamber 35, and thence upwards through the Conduit 12 to radiators or other radiating elements of the heating system.

If any dirt particles should enter the guide socket 70, say through the cutouts 71 or through the upper socket end, the particles will fall through the lower socket end into the closure member bore 75, and thus leave the guide socket freely slidable on the stern 63. Occasional cleaning may be etfected by merely removing the plug 45 from the hole 38, which serves to remove the stem 63 and closure member 69, and then flushing, blowing out or otherwise cleaning the hole 75 to clear the latter of accumulated dirt. The plug 45, and the elements assembled therewith, may then be replaced in valve body and operation resumed.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides a valve construction for venting the air from and controlling the flow of water in a hot water heating system, which fully accomplishes its intended objects, and is well adapted to meet practical conditions of manufacture, installation, maintenance and use.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by illustration and example for purpose of clarity of Understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A valve construction for controlling the flow of water in and venting the air from a hot water heating system, said valve construction comprising a valve body having a lower inlet chamber and adapted to be arranged adjacent to the top of a boiler with said inlet chamber communicating with the upper interior region of said terior of said body, said body beingforme'd with an'outl'et I chamber on one side of said air' removal chamber and adapted for fluid communication' with heat radiating elements of said system, said body being` provided with a passageway extending generally laterally from a lower region of said air removal chamber and opening upwards into said outlet chamber, a Conduit communicating between a lower region of said air removal chamber and the interior of said boiler below the waterlevel therein for conducting water to said airremoval chamber, and a check valve located in said outlet chamber to permit the flow of water from said passageway into said outlet chamber and prevent the return of water from said outlet chamber to said passageway, whereby air carri'ed in said conducted water rises'to the upper regions of said air removal chamber for escape through said air vent and air-free water moves laterally through said passageway to saidoutlet chamber.

2. A valve construction according to claim 1, said check valve comprising a generally vertically disposed stern carried in said valve body depending toward the opening of said passageway into said outlet chamber, and a closure member havingan upwardly opening: guide socket loosely and slidably receiving the lower end portion of said stern to permit vertical shi'fting of said closure member into and out of closing relation with respect to the opening of said passageway into said outlet chamber, said closure member being provided with a laterally extending through bore communicating with the lower end portion of said guide socket to facilitate removal of dirt from said guide socket.

3. In a valve construction for controlling the flow of water in and venting the air from a hot water heating system, a valve body having a downwardly opening air removal chamber and adapted to be arranged adjacent to the top of a boiler with the air removal chamber in fluid communication with the interior of said boiler below the water level therein for receiving water from said boiler, an air vent mounted in said body in communication between an upper interior region of said air removal chamber and the exterior of said body, said body being formed with an outlet chamber on one side of and above said air removal chamber and adapted for fluid communication from its upper region with heat radiating elements of said system, said body being provided with a passageway extending generally laterally from a lower region of said air removal chamber and opening upwards into said outlet chamber, and a check valve located in said outlet chamber and operable to permit the flow of Water from said passageway into said outlet chamber and prevent the return of water from said outlet chamber to said passageway, whereby air entrained in the water from said boiler rises to the upper region of said air removal chamber for egress through said air vent and substantially air-free water passes laterally through said passageway and into said outlet chamber for circulation through said heating system.

4. A valve construction according to claim 3, said check valve comprising a generally vertically disposed stern carried in said valve body depending toward the opening of said passageway into said outlet chamber, and a closure member having an upwardly opening guide socket loosely and slidably receiving the lower end portion of said stern to permit vertical shifting of said closure member into and out of closing relation with respect to the opening of said passageway into said outlet chamber, said closure member being provided with a laterally extendng through bore communicating with the lower end I portion of said guide socket to facilitate 'emoval of dirt from said guide socket.

5. A valve construction for controlling the flow of water in and venting the air from a hot water heating system, said valve Construction comprising a valve body having a downwardly opening lower inlet chamber and adapted to be arranged adjacent to the top of a boiler with the inlet chamber in fluid communication with the upper interior region of said boiler above the water level thereof for receiving air from said boiler, said body being provided in a side wall portion with an air outlet communicating with said inlet chamber for passing air from the latter to an expansion vessel, said body being formed with an air removal chamber above said inlet chamber, an air vent mounted in said body in communication between an upper interior region of said air removal chamber and the exterior of said body, said body being formed with an outlet chamber on one side of and above said air removal chamber and adapted for fluid communication from its upper region With heat radiating elements of said system, said body being provided With a passageway extending generally laterally from the lower region of said air-removal chamber and communicating with said outlet chamber, and a tube having its upper end extending spacedly through said inlet chamber and opening upwards through a lower Wall portion of said air removal chamber, the lower end of said tube extending downwards for communication With the interier of said boiler below the water level therein for conducting Water to said air removal chamber, whereby air carried in said conducted water rises to the upper region of said air removal chamber for escape through said air vent and air-free water moves laterally through said passageway to said outlet chamber.

6. A valve Construction according to claim 5, said outlet chamber being located above said passageway and formed in a lower Wall portion with a port opening downwards into said passageway, and valve means in said outlet chamber to prevent the return of Water from said outlet chamber to said passageway.

7. A valve Construction according to claim 6, said valve means comprisng a closure member disposed over said port, and means mountng said closure member for free up and down movement between a lower position resting on the lower wall portion of said outlet chamber in closirzg relation with respect to said port and an upper position spaced above said lower Wall portion to open said port, whereby said closure member permts the upward movement of air-free water from said passageway to said outlet chamber and prevents the downward return of airf'ee water from said outlet chamber to said passageway.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,194,805 Moore Mar. 26, 1940 2,220,078 Cornell Nov. 5, 1940 2,500,621 Tdd Mar. 14, 1950 2,721,62Q Geer et al. Oct. 25, 1955 

